Sera's Point of View
"Sera, come help me with this!"
My father's voice. Warm. Like honey.
I looked up from where I was sitting—some garden I didn't recognize but felt familiar anyway. He was standing by a rose bush, holding pruning shears, smiling at me.
Actually smiling.
"Coming!" I called back, getting to my feet.
Lydia was there too, lying on a blanket in the sun. Reading some book. She glanced up when I passed and grinned. "Don't let him boss you around too much. You know how he gets with those roses."
"I heard that," Father said, but he was laughing.
Laughing.
This was nice. This was... normal. Like having an actual family instead of whatever twisted thing we usually were.
I reached Father and took the shears he offered. Our hands touched briefly and his expression softened.
